If the Los Angeles Lakers are looking for a reason to buy a second-round draft pick, Ja’Kobi Gillespie is exactly that. The Tennessee Volunteers senior is the well-rounded point guard the Lakers’ rotation needs, with a combination of playmaking, defensive intensity, and shooting potential that Los Angeles would be wise to covet.
A hard-nosed player who goes all-out on both ends of the floor, Gillespie has the potential to be the cult hero who makes the type of ugly plays that bring a home crowd to life.
Gillespie, 22, played four rather illustrious seasons at the collegiate level. During that time, he earned All-Conference recognition in the MVC, Big Ten, and SEC. He did so with two-way contributions that simply couldn’t be overlooked.
Unfortunately, as a 22-year-old undersized point guard whose jump shot has been understandably questioned, Gillespie has a second-round grade ahead of the 2026 NBA Draft.
Gillespie measured at 5’11.75” without shoes at the Combine, but he also recorded a 6’4” wingspan and a 39.5” max vertical leap. As the film confirms, both of those facts help him play bigger than he stands on either end of the floor.
No second-round pick should be viewed as a source of immediate prosperity, but the Lakers can bolster their second unit by gambling on Gillespie.
Ja’Kobi Gillespie is the two-way guard who can elevate Lakers bench
Gillespie finished the 2025-26 season with averages of 18.4 points, 5.4 assists, 2.8 rebounds, 2.1 steals, and 2.8 three-point field goals made per game. He struggled with his efficiency, shooting at a clip of .410/.338/.814, but there’s reason to believe his role plays a factor.
Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, Gillespie shot 40.0 percent on 5.2 three-point field goal attempts per game. His attempts skyrocketed to 8.2 per contest in 2025-26.
With a more balanced role on offense, Gillespie has proven capable of thriving—in both mid-major and major conferences. In 2024-25, for instance, he and New Orleans Pelicans center Derik Queen led the Maryland Terrapins to a 27-9 record, a Big Ten Semifinal appearance, and a trip to the Sweet 16.
Having proven capable of playing off of NBA-caliber talent and simultaneously simplifying the game for them, Gillespie is more proven than most in his position.
For the Lakers, drafting Gillespie would also put pressure on the likes of Bronny James and Nick Smith Jr. to push for improvement. They’re the current backup guards on Los Angeles’ roster, and while free agency may change that fact, there’s too much uncertainty to stay the course.
With a chance to spend a minimal amount of money on a second-round pick who can develop in their system, the Lakers should give Gillespie a chance to become the third guard they need.
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